Glass manufacture.



. I. WICCQY.

MASS. IWANUFACTURE.

im' APPLICATION FILED APR. 4| 1912. LGQSAS, Patented Feb. 5, 1918.

SSHEETSPSHEET 1.

w n" w l Mh Hoc/ues) i. MCCOY.

GLASS MANUFCTURE.

jllpg? APPLICATION FILED APR\4.19!2 Paemted Feb. 5,

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.,

T. J. NICCOY.

GLASS MANUFACTURE. APPucATmNTlLEn APR. 4. 19m.

Patented Feb. 5, 1918.r

l lill specification ot Le @ters hattest.

Patented liteit. 5, tgild.

Application. tiled April at, 191.52. Serial No. edita-U8.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, THOMAS J. McCor, a citizen of the United States, residing at Kane, in the county of McKean and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful improvements in Glass Manufacture, of-wliich the following is a specification, t

T his invention relates to an improved process and apparatus for the manufacture of glass articles, such for exampie as winnow giass, or other forms of sheet glass.

The primary object of this invention is to convert the molten glass into sheet forniation by a method and apparatus whichdispenses with the usual meansv employed in blowing, drawing, ladling, pouring from pots crucihles and the like, and flattening, annealing, etc., of the glass at intermittent periods.

These, and further objects will more :fully appear from the following description, in which reference will be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application which shows a form of apparatus embodying my said invention, and wherein,

Figure 1, is a fragmentary sectional View of the discharge end of a glass tank and ac* cessories showing a sheet of glass hemp,n formed by flowing a sheet from the molten glass in the tank.

Fig. 2, a top plan view, partly in section of thedischarge end of the glass tank shown in Fig. 1..v

Fig. 3, represents a cross section of Fig. i.

Fig". 4, is a detail perspectiife view of the spout over which the glass is fiowed. l'

Fig. 5, isa fragmentary sectional View of my apparatus showinp; glass heingr flowed from the supply tank through the fiowingg acne,

Fig. 6, is a detail perspective view of the :movable shield placed within the thawing zone.

Referring.,r to the drawings, 1 represents the glass tank containing the molten glass; except as to that portion of the tank` from which the glass is flowed or discharged, this tank may be of any desired construction, aftthough preferably of such construction as shown in my prior application for Letters Patent, VSerial No. 652780 tiled by me .on Oct. 4, 1911, of which a portion is shown in Fig. 5, but as to the discharging or tiowl ing compartments, it is of novel construe tion especially adapted for carrying out my improved process.

The compartment A as shown is c0nstructed by' buildingI out from the main tank 1, wing walls 3-3 which are joined. by a horiaontai bridge i, upon which is erected an end wall 5, connecting the wing walls 3 5,

and extending upward to the cap stone 10 placed over compartment Au Across the end of the glass tank l7 is an arch wall 6, extending over and above the glass it, in the tank. Below the arch wall 6, and siightly forward thereof is the end wall '7, of the tank 1, which is huilt upon. the foundation 8. Resting' upon the wing walls 23m-3, and upon the end wall 7, is a gradually shallowing flume or spout 9, of refractory material which constitutes an important feature of this invention. Located alcove the spout 9, and resting on the wing walls 3-3, is a cap stone 10, forming the roof of compartment A Extending upward from the foundation 8, 'and attached to each of the wing walls SH3, is a wall 11., which, with the cross wall "Tf, and the refractory spout 9, forms the compertinent B, rfhis compartment is'de signed to he a heating-kiln, Ahy the introduction of gas through burners 12, the objects of which will be more fully set forth.

For the purpose of regulating the temi perature within the compartment .A when required, lt. provide ports 13, through which .gas burners 13 are introduced, the object of which will he more fully set forth.

The refractory spout 9, constituting the roof of compartment B, is designed to be heated from below by means of .fuel gas introduced through the burners 12--12, and for the'purpose of producing and maintainingo. luniform heat area to the spouty over which the glass is iiowed, the edges nearest to the wingF walls 3--3, are made propor- .compartment A, and designed to moved into close proximity to the sheet of glass as 1t passes over the roundednose or the refractory spout 9, and arranged to be nd.-v

justed in proper relation to the glass. For the further purposes ot' maintaining the desired shape ot the flume through which the glass passes, so :is to equalize the lient radiating properties thereof, the movable reirse- .tory body 18, is so designed that the ilovving zone through which the glass posses in rounding; the nose ot' the spout., is plenon convex by virtue ot Athe novel shone ,elven designed to be closed tothe face of the movable refractory body 18,

adjacent to the sheet of glass where it curves` overr the refractory spout 9, seid face being hyperbolical in formation.

The movable refractory body 18 also serves the purpose of shielding the glass :is it passes over the refractory spout 9. when desired, from the temperature irc sing means or temperature decreesinoj ineens, operating through the ports 13. A. urther 'purpose of the movable refractory body is to shield the surface of the gloss es it flows over the rounded spout. 9, Jfrom the direct contact With the flame from the burners 13' and to increase the temperature in that port ofthe flowing zone adjacent to the rounded nose of the refractory body 9, by direct rodiution through the movable refractory body 18.

Referring to the drawings (Fig. 5) the movable shield 18, is shown hung ispended through the aperture l?, in the cap stone 10. The aperture l? extends across the en tire widt of the comiartment A, :null is vvnen the movable body 18., is hung in place., For'the purposes of properly suspending the movable shield 18, apertures 19are made therethrough into Whiche-re fitted suitable stirrups 20, which A- il pese upward through the permanent support 2l, and are susceptible oit vertical movement by the operation of the bend Wheel 22, which is screw threaded 'over the end of the stirrup rod Referring to the drawings (Figs. l. und 5) it will. be observed that there is a narrow slit or opening 24, between the top of viali 11, and the refractory body S). This o n being located in close proximity to the point inatteso Where the sheet ot' glass .leaves the rounded nose of the refractory body 9, the increased temperature emanating therefrom, will be directly applied to the sheet of glass as it leaves the ioiving spout, and will o'l'set the lower temperutln'e existing, outside of the wall il, to such extent as muy be required. The amount oit heut emanating from the above aperture may be cmitrollcd by the opening und closing of the fines l5. This heat applied to the sheet of glass :is xit leaves the ilowing spout, also serves the purpose ot giving the glass a brilliuncy and fire polish that. it is impossible to obtain otherwise.

To provide for the further uniformity o the temperature of the glass, as itf'loivs over the spout 9, and in ma1ntein1ng.the coges .of thcglziss at the sume temperature, While he edges :ire 'controlled und kept Within the heet zone, lf provide elevated ribs I4, shown in l? h These ribs are placed at'a nt distance from the side walls 3-lso permit ol the heat Within the flowing zone being applied to the ribs, against which the glass will come in contact, to facilitate their attaining the same temperatui as that. of the body ot the spout i).

l hure found trom practical experience tliut it is e.. 'matter of considerable dillicnlty produce the requisite und required temperature in e uniss ol molten glass to secure the best results for flowing u sheet of gloss from seid uniss, solely by the application of hout gninerutingr moons over the sheet :is it is being llou'ed, und the regulation of such means during the flowing process. Furthermore in the flowing; of a. sheet oi.' glass over e Wide urea of flow, it has been disclosed by practical experience that the molten gloss liable to very and be reduced in temperature in different portions of the sheet. due to its Contact with the surfaces of the refractory body of o. lower temperature over which itis iovvn, und this reduction in temperature :it different parts of the sheet vwill cruise no adhesion of the glass to the surfaces of the `guide Walls with which it. comes in Contact, and :i gradual. concealing of such authoring' gloss will occur to the detrii'nent of the flow.

Ey the present in volition. instead of cntirely reffulutiiur theA temperature of the molten gloss being formed in sheets, from the temperuture olJt-ho heating zone above the glass, l superluut the side ot thc sheet which comes in Contact, with the spout, some what above the degree ot temperature rcquired to suitably tlow the gloss, and I then produce the proper temperutnrc to the top sur-Face of the molten gloss, comprising the sheet, by controlling the heut within the flowingn zone ullowing thc cooling of the top surface of the sheet to n proper workiin,r

Fili

lill) lli() l. 11i (l Lausana' sential that the sheet should-pass through a zone of. Such temperature that the upper sur- 'faceof the glass in process of` formation,

able conveyer, and still be suliiciently con- `gealed as it leaves the nose of the fiume to preserve its sheet formation and to cause an adherence thereto, and a proper ,congealing therewith, of the film of fluid surface on the under side of the sheet, and the present invention consists among other things of a method and apparatus for accomplishing these results.

Another feature of my method of the application of heat to the under side of the sheet of glass, while being flowed over the spout'which is produced by direct radiation. from the products of com; bastion within the compartment B, llhe application ot heat by like radiation to the upper surface of the'g'lass as it turns over the rounded nose' of the spout is produced by the refractory shield 18, from the burners 13 in compartment AJ The temperature by such radiation may be regulated at will, by merely varying` the amount of fuel gas, which is introduced through the burners 12 and 13. lt is iniportant for the success of the operation that itshould be possible to bring the tempera` ture of the-spout to exactly such a degree that the liquid' glass is able to flow constantly oier it, without its adherence to the spout, and to be able to maintain this temperature. Upon this suitable' uniformly tempered spout the upper surface of the sheet of glass becomes consistent, yet lthe under Side remains in such state of fluidity as 'to flow freely and turn over the nose of the spout where it rapidly loses its fluid@k ity, due to its Contact with the cooler air between the sheet of glass Q and the Wall 11, and is thus conveyed into a sheet 'of glass which is still slightly malleable, but already sufticientlyset to maintain its sheet forniation and is deposited upon a suitable support or conveyer as is intended to be used with this apparatus, substantially as shown and described in my application for l). tgl.

Letters Patent Serial No. 627,933.

Y .ln order that the flowing: operation may he successfully carried out, it is essential that the temperature of the spout should not become too great, as otherwise the glass would not he at the proper congealing state as it invention is the are diverted in. a vertical passes over the rounded nose of the spout. The means of proper regulation, and the novel formation of the flowing spout and the adjustable shield placed within the ilowing zone as well as the walls of the compartment within which the flowing takes place, constitute sonic of the principal chan acteristics of this invention, in the sense that they permit of producing a continuous flow of a layer of glass from the liquid state to a gradual congealingi,- into a solid state, without any unnatural strains, so prevalent where tension is applied to the glass while in its congealing state.

For the purposes of taking care of the products of combustion arising within the compartment B discharge flue l5, is placed in communication with the compartment B on each side, extending upward parallel with the wing walls 3-3.

To likewise provide for the disposal of the products ofv combustion arising; Within the compartment A, discharge dues 16 are placed through the wing' walls 3-3, which communicatinpthrough the passage are uI1- der the horizontal bridge receive the currents of air passing downward from the cour paitmenWA. For the purpose of ohserviiug,l the flow of' glass over the rounded nose of the spout 9, port hole l?, is placed through the wing; walls 3 8. This'port lhole also serves the purpose ot' admitting relatively cooler air when necessary into the flowing Zone. The discharge tlues l5 and 16, after passing; horizontally through the wing Walls direction, and communicate with any suitable discharge.

lt, will be seen from the foregoing description that the glass from which the sheets are. formed is conveyed from a mass of glass 'within a tank, over a gradually shal lowing flume or spout extending into a suitably heat regulated compartment,.and ley the arrangement. which l have provided, the path of flow of the glass is located between two heat zones of different temperatures, and o novel formation the degrees of which are controlled and governed ac cording to the requirements necessary for a successful flowing of the glass, of any desired thickness.

Without limiting myself to the specific instrumentalities and method described, what i claim is:

l. in apparatus for makingsheet glass comprising?,l a glass tank for containing' inolten glass having a reduced extended end portion` an upwardly inclined bottoni tu said end portion' forming the outer wall' ci. said extending portion, adapted to forni the 4glass extending outwardly over said inrac lfractory body.

for varying the cross sectional area of said passageway by the movement of said re- 3. An apparatus of. the character described com risinfr a deliver f tank for molten crlass i: .l e:

having a covered extended end portion, an upwardly inclined bottoni to said end portion forming the outer wall thereof, a down wardly extended passage way located within said covered end-portion, a movable refractory body located within said passage way, and means .for varying the cross sectional area 'of said Vertical passage 4way by the movement of said refractory body.

' e. An apparatus of the character described comprising a delivery tank for molten glass having a covered extended end portion, an

upwardly inclined bottom to said end portion forming the outer wall thereof, a downwardly extended passage way located within said cover end portion, a movable refractory body located within said passage way, and a horizontal movable carrier located directly inserate beneath the point of the outer wall adapted to divert the downward movement of the glass to a horizontal plane\ 5. A sheet glass forming apparatus, comprising a glass tank for containing molten glass having an extended end portion, an upwardly inclined bottom wall to said end portion, positioned to hold a portion of the volume of glass in the tank, a downwardly extended passage Way located adjacent to the outer wall of the extended end portion through which said glass passes, and means for controlling the temperature within said passage, by varying the cross sectional area thereof, l

6. An apparatus of the character described comprising a tank for molten glass having a covered extended end portion, an upwardly inclined bottom to said end portion forming the outer wall of said extended portion, a heating kiln formed within the outer wall of the extended end portion the top wall of said kiln forming the inclined bottom of said end portion, and means comprising a horizontal movable carrier located directly beneath the outer wall to divert the glass from a downward movement to a horizontal plane by which the glass overflow deposited thereon is maintained in sheet formation.

In testimony whereof I have signature in presence oi two witnesses.

THOMAS J. MGCOY. Witnesses:

T. TnEvoR McCoy, 'N. D. HowELLs. 

